As someone who eats out frequently and has lost over 50 pounds since June of last year, I am often asked what my secret is to staying fit and maintaining my weight loss. To the outside world, it appears that I have mastered the impossible. My secrets are fairly simple:

During a recent dinner at Williamsburg Winery with Virginia Tourism, I got to hear first hand by some of the best winemakers and purveyors in Virginia, about the 400 years of history, passion and innovation behind the things I love the most. Patrick Duffeler, Founder and Chairman of the Winery started the evening off with a personal motto that he addresses to his customers; "Is there anything better in life than enjoying it?"

After years of vacancy, another few years of waiting for construction to finish, and the increased anticipation of what businesses would occupy the space, Norfolk's Waterside District is officially open. Growing up in this area, I remember the "old waterside", a place filled with specialty shops, restaurants, and activities for people of all ages. I was hoping that the new Waterside would offer a little taste of the past, some local favorites, and bring in things that the area hadn't seen before.

I attended the 141st Preakness in Baltimore last year and despite the 100% chance of rain, me having difficulty finding a cute hat and dress, and my favorite contender (Exaggerator) not being the winner of the Kentucky Derby, I was excited for the experience. While you may have missed your chance to attend the 2017 Kentucky Derby (spoiler alert: Always Dreaming won), you still have time to attend the Preakness. Here are the top 5 reasons why you should attend.

You've seen the Rubber Duck at the Chrysler Museum, you may have even gone to the Dot Maze in Virginia Beach Town Center, but the current visual experience at the Waterside District in Norfolk is incomparable. Kick off your shoes, and get ready to experience a world of lights, color, sound and design by Architects of Air with the ARBORIA Luminaria.

BBQ….what is it exactly? Depending on where you live, the meaning can vary from an event to a type of meat being served. There is a lot of room for debate, but as a born and raised Virginian, if you tell me we’re having BBQ, I hear pulled pork. My preference for its preparation is simple: a little vinegar, red pepper, bbq sauce on the top, pulled (not chopped) meat, and coleslaw on the side. Many restaurants consider BBQ as an assortment of meats to include pulled pork, ribs, and brisket, and I wanted to find a place that was doing it well.

By definition, Esoteric means something intended for or understood by a small number of people. Before having dinner at the Virginia Beach based restaurant, I read an online review where someone was turned off by them based solely on their use of this word. While this may have been intentional on the businesses part, it didn't bother me because a quick skim of their menu didn't require the use of too much brain power. I had been reluctant to visit due to their attraction to the hipster crowd. I saw that to downgrade them, but so often restaurants with that following serve food that is only aesthetically pleasing (i.e. no real flavor).

Hopefully you read the 1st part of my Savannah trip where I talk about the food and drinks, if not you can read about that over here. But since there is more to travelling then just eating ( although, I'm up for the challenge), time was made for sightseeing and shopping. While I try not to appear like a tourist when I travel by avoiding overpriced souvenir shops and not wearing a fanny pack, when in Rome, you have to buy the stuff.